Here is my first public interview regarding my book “The Power of Dadhood: How to Become the Father Your Child Needs”. While I've had experience speaking during my military career, it was never about myself or issues personal to me. My experiences as a young man gave me insight into not having a caring father. To discuss those experiences is uncomfortable but necessary to the message of my book--the message being in the title. The base problem of most societal issues is not being addressed The harm caused to children, and subsequently to society when parents are under-educated or even casual about raising their kids, is truly significant. Not addressing this basic social need more aggressively is one of the most basic flaws in our country!

We tend to put band-aids on the results of poor parenting instead of addressing parenting itself! I believe, and research shows, that preparing parents and preventing issues early is more effective than trying to fix the individual and societal problems that perpetuate when children are raised without a fatherly influence. But to prepare parents, they first have to BE THERE!

Even the strongest of mothers can use help with the insights and love of another caring parent. Men who don’t have fathers very often aren't interested in fathering themselves. Women who don’t have fathers, often don’t expect much from the men who are the father of their babies. It's too easy to create a child but very difficult to raise one. Subsequently, we have more high school drop outs, more crime, more drug use, more lack of respect for authority…and on and on.

My Approach

My book emulates the approach of an organization that helps at the basic level, preventing issues in the first place: ‘Parents as Teachers (PAT)’. PAT works with parents just prior to birth and up to three years old, to teach basic skills to their children, prepare them for school, and to look for possible learning disabilities. PAT has been proven to have a very positive impact on the performance of children who have been in their program.

With my book, I want to give guys who may not have had a great role model some perspective that could help them to provide their children with a critical positive foundation of love and support. I want men to have the desire and skills to raise healthy children before the opportunity is missed and troubles begin.

The Interview

So here is part one of my interview. Part two will come in my next blog. Hopefully my passion shows through my inexperience and nervousness. Please share the video with anyone who could benefit from my message.

A Request If you don’t need to buy my book for yourself, buy it for someone that may be able to get something out of it. Easily available on line or in Barnes and Noble bookstores. Locally, please try The Novel Neighbor on Big Bend near Laclede Station Rd. It's a beautiful, welcoming independent bookstore. I will also be having a book signing there from 4-5 PM on May 31st!

If you can’t afford it to buy a copy, write me with details at <mike@michaelbyronsmithcom>, and I’ll give you one at no cost--if you promise to share it!